‘Get them out’: Tradie’s viral plea to parents
A plumber has called on parents to be more considerate when inviting tradespeople into their homes. What should have been a simple plumbing repair quickly became a challenging situation due to a toddler.
James Pallone, 26, a tradesman from Wollongong, was sent to a rental property last week to fix a sink. Upon arrival, he found himself sharing the workspace with a very curious child.
“Usually I’m cool with it … this is different. This has a boundary.”
Mr. Pallone received the job through a real estate agent and had no direct contact with the tenant before arriving. He found the tenant waiting outside with his young son, whom he estimated to be under two years old.
Despite a language barrier, the tenant was respectful and tried to communicate, with Mr. Pallone using Google Translate to assist.
“He didn’t speak any English … I just went along with my own thing and started doing the job myself,”
While working under the kitchen sink on what was expected to be a simple job fixing a blocked drain and a leaking tap, Mr. Pallone quickly noticed the toddler had become an unplanned assistant.
“I was undoing the trap to unblock it, and the child was right under the sink with me, getting under my arm, trying to get in,”
This unexpected “helper” turned an ordinary plumbing task into a memorable experience for the tradie.
Summary: A plumber’s viral story highlights the challenges tradespeople face when young children are present during home repairs, urging parents to consider their presence carefully.
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